The Colombo Stars opened their 2024 Lanka Premier League campaign with a win over the Kandy Falcons at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The Falcons, who opened their campaign with a win on Monday, put the Strikers in to bat after winning the toss.
Colombo made use of the opportunity, posting 198-7 from their 20 overs.
It was a collective effort with the bat for the Stars as Sadeera Samarawickrama, skipper Thisara Perera, Muhammad Waseem, Chamika Karunaratne and Shadab Khan all made solid contributions.
Samarawickrama led the way with 48 from 26 balls including seven fours and a six while being well supported by Perera (38 off 30), Waseem (32 off 18), Karunaratne (25* off 10) and Khan (20 off 17).
Falcons captain Wanindu Hasaranga took 2-30 from his four overs.
The Falcons got starts from Dinesh Chandimal, Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews and Andre Fletcher but they weren’t enough as their chase fizzled out, eventually being dismissed for 147 with one ball left in the 16th over.
Chandimal made a top score of 38 while Hasaranga, Matthews and Fletcher made scores of 25, 25 and 24, respectively.
Shadab Khan led the way with 4-22 from his four overs including the tournament’s first hat-trick in the 15th over.
Dunith Wellalage took 4-20 from 3.5 overs.
Full Scores:
Colombo Stars 198-7 from 20 overs (Sadeera Samarawickrama 48, Thisara Perera 38, Muhammad Waseem 32, Chamika Karunaratne 25*, Shadab Khan 20, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-30)
Kandy Falcons 147 off 15.5 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 38, Wanindu Hasaranga 25, Angelo Mathews 25, Andre Fletcher 24, Dunith Wellalage 4-20, Shadab Khan 4-22)
Action continues on Wednesday when the Dambulla Sixers take on the Jaffna Kings at 4:30 AM before the Colombo Strikers face the Galle Marvels at 9:30 AM (Jamaica Time).
Both games can be seen live on Sportsmax.
A solid bowling effort from West Indian all-rounder Fabian Allen was not enough to prevent the Jaffna Kings from going sown by five wickets to the Galle Marvels in match two of the 2024 Lanka Premier League at the Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday.
The Kings, after winning the toss and batting first, posted 177-7 from their 20 overs.
Avishka Fernando was the main contributor for the three-time champions with 59 from 48 balls while Pathum Nissanka hit 51 off 33 balls.
Fernando’s innings included seven fours and a six while Nissanka hit six fours and two sixes.
Captain Charith Asalanka also contributed a 15-ball 33 against 3-34 off four overs from Zahoor Khan and 2-23 from four overs from Dwayne Pretorius.
The Marvels then used all of the 120 balls available to them to successfully chase down their target.
Alex Hales led the way with 65 off 47 balls including seven fours and two sixes while Captain Niroshan Dickwella made 47 off 27 balls including eight fours and a six as Galle reached 179-5 off 20 overs.
Janith Liyanage also made a crucial 13-ball 25 for Galle. It eventually came down to them needing three runs off the last ball, a ball that Sahan Arachchige hit for four to seal the win.
Fabian Allen took 2-33 from his four overs for the Kings.
Full Scores:
Jaffna Kings 177-7 off 20 overs (Avishka Fernando 59, Pathum Nissanka 51, Charith Asalanka 33, Zahoor Khan 3-34, Dwayne Pretorius 2-23)
Galle Marvels 179-5 off 20 overs (Alex Hales 65, Niroshan Dickwella 47, Janith Liyanage 25, Fabian Allen 2-33, Avishka Fernando 2-40)
As hurricane Beryl continues to wreak havoc across the Caribbean, the West Indies Under-19 men’s and women’s Rising Stars tournaments have been placed on hold as host nations Trinidad and Tobago and St Vincent and the Grenadines suffered blows from the category four system.
Both tournaments are scheduled to start on Tuesday, but given the effects of Beryl, organisers were forced to shelf previous plans as they continue to assess the situation where travels and other logistical issues are concerned.
In fact, CWI vice president Azim Bassarath highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the tournament.
“Nothing as yet. We don’t know what is the situation with flights coming out of the different islands after Beryl. So, it (the tournament) is on hold until everything returns to normalcy,” he told T&T Newsday.
Jamaica won both Under-19 men's title last year.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-19 men’s team were set to depart their shores for St Vincent on Sunday. However, flights were cancelled throughout the Caribbean.
Up to late Monday, Trinidad and Tobago’s manager Kerwin John pointed out that they did not get any word from CWI on the tournament’s status.
“We are still at home. We have not travelled to St Vincent as yet, as the flight yesterday (Sunday) was cancelled from T&T to Barbados and Barbados to St Vincent. We are waiting on the cricket board to say when is that rescheduled flight,” John stated.
St Vincent and the Grenadines’ National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported significant damage to properties on Monday, with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves revealing that the islands are still under a tropical storm warning.
“We have begun to receive heartbreaking reports out of the Union Island and the southern Grenadines, even as our agencies desperately attempt to re-establish communications with certain sections and ascertain the extent of the damage to the mainland,” the Prime Minister shared in a social media post.
T&T Under-19 women's team.
Meanwhile, Nadra Dwarika-Baptiste, manager of Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-19 women’s team said they were expected to get an update soon.
Barbados and Windward Island women’s teams are already in the twin island republic as they recently engaged the host in a tri-series in preparation for the CWI tournament.
“I know the teams are represented but I can’t say if everyone is here. We haven’t been in a setting to see if everyone is present. We have not gotten anything yet, but we do expect some meetings by this afternoon,” she said in an interview T&T Newsday.
Jamaica, Leeward Islands, and Guyana are the other teams for the women’s tournament that was initially scheduled for July 2-July 13.
The men’s competition also has six teams down to vie for the three-day, and 50-over titles.
Jamaica’s men’s under-19 team won both titles last year.
Andre Fletcher’s Kandy Falcons opened the 2024 Lanka Premier League season with a six-wicket win over the Dambulla Sixers at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
The Sixers, after being put in to bat by the Falcons, first posted a respectable 179-4 from their 20 overs.
New Zealand’s Mark Chapman led the way with an excellent unbeaten 91* off 61 balls including eight fours and four sixes while Chamindu Wickramsinghe provided excellent support with 62* off 42 balls including four fours and three sixes.
Dasun Shanaka took 3-20 from his four overs for the Falcons.
Then, despite a first-ball duck from Fletcher at the top of the innings, the Falcons successfully reached 183-4 off just 17.2 overs.
Fletcher’s opening partner Dinesh Chandimal led the way with a 40-ball 65 including six fours and three sixes while Shanaka and Angelo Matthews provided the finishing touches with 46* off 15 balls and 37* off 20 balls, respectively.
Full Scores:
Dambulla Sixers 179-4 off 20 overs (Mark Chapman 91*, Chamindu Wickramsinghe 62*, Dasun Shanaka 3-20)
Kandy Falcons 183-4 off 17.2 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 65, Dasun Shanaka 46*, Angelo Matthews 37*)
The league continues on Tuesday with the Jaffna Kings taking on the Galle Marvels at 4:30 AM before the Colombo Strikers take on the Kandy Falcons at 9:00 AM (Jamaica Time).
Both games will be shown live on Sportsmax.
The T20 World Cup came to a thrilling conclusion over the weekend, with India clinching their second title by beating South Africa.
Rohit Sharma's side claimed a seven-run win over the Proteas in Barbados on Saturday.
Virat Kohli turned on the style at just the right time, while Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball.
But what about the standout statistics when looking back at the tournament as a whole?
Afghanistan duo top the charts
Afghanistan were the unlikely semi-finalists as they finished second in Group 1 of the Super 8s, ahead of Australia.
And their deep run owed much to the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz with the bat and Fazalhaq Farooqi with the ball.
Gurbaz finished as the tournament's top scorer, with 281 runs across his eight innings - an average of 35.12. He had a strike rate of 124.33 and a high score of 80, hitting three half-centuries and plundering 16 sixes and 18 fours.
India captain Rohit was second on the list, 24 runs back (257), with Australia's Travis Head third with 253, though they both boasted a better strike rate than Gurbaz (156.7 and 158.38 respectively).
Farooqi, meanwhile, took a tournament-leading 17 wickets, a tally he shared with India's Arshdeep Singh.
However, while Singh went for 215 runs from his 30 overs, Farooqi conceded just 160 runs from his 25.2 overs, for a bowling economy of 6.31.
Farooqi also finished with the best figures for a single match, taking 5-9 against Uganda on June 3.
India's hero Bumrah, meanwhile, finished with figures of 15-124, while South Africa paceman Anrich Nortje took 15-201.
Pooran the entertainer
West Indies could not get over the line in their home tournament, but that was not for the efforts of Nicholas Pooran, who proved to be the World Cup's great entertainer.
If Pooran was involved, you could bet there would be fun, as he smashed 17 sixes across his seven innings.
He also claimed the tournament's highest score, with his 98 from just 53 balls against Afghanistan on June 17, as the Windies set the highest score of the competition (218-5).
That knock included a remarkable eight maximums, so essentially half of Pooran's total.
Australia's Head struck the most fours (26), while South Africa skipper Aiden Markram was the one to avoid in the field when hitting big.
Markram took eight catches in nine matches, leading the tournament ahead of Harry Brook, Tristen Stubbs and Glenn Maxwell (all seven).
Records tumble in the final
Kohli smashed 76 runs from 59 balls in the final, helping India reach 176-7 - that is the highest score in a men's T20 World Cup final.
India's former captain had managed just 75 runs combined across his previous seven innings before the final, but came into form at the right time.
However, he bowed out of the shortest format having become just the third player to score more than 50 runs in multiple men's T20 World Cup finals, after Marlon Samuels and Kumar Sangakkara.
Yet South Africa looked all set to claim the trophy as they started the chase brilliantly, with Heinrich Klaasen reaching 50 from just 23 deliveries.
It is the fastest half-century in a men's T20 World Cup final, with Klaassen overtaking the previous record, set by Mitchell Marsh in 2021, by eight balls.
But from needing 30 runs from as many deliveries, South Africa collapsed, and India became the third team to win the T20 World Cup on multiple occasions, after West Indies and England.
Nicholas Pooran is the only West Indies player to make the cut as the ICC named their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament on Sunday.
Six players from the title-winning Indian squad have been named in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 team of the tournament.
Rohit Sharma
Runs: 257, Average: 36.71, Strike-rate: 156.7, Fifties: 3
Setting the tone at the top of the order, Rohit Sharma embraced India's new approach in T20Is and showed the way with his brilliant ball striking. Scoring at a rate of 156.7, the Indian skipper made 257 runs in the tournament, the second-most by any player. With three fifties in eight games, Rohit showed consistency as well while maintaining a brilliant strike-rate. His best came against Australia in the Super Eight, when he bludgeoned one of the best attacks in the tournament for 92 in just 41 balls. In the semi-final, he once again made an impact with a 57 off 39 balls. Rohit also led the side admirably as a leader, taking the side to a historic T20 World Cup title win after 17 years.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Runs: 281, Average: 35.12, Strike-rate: 124.33, Fifties: 3
Alongside Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz forged an impressive opening partnership, scoring 446 runs as a pair, including three century stands and was critical to Afghanistan's run to the semi-finals of the tournament. Gurbaz shone with exceptional knocks against Uganda (76), New Zealand (80), Australia (60) and Bangladesh (43). He finished as the leading run-scorer in the tournament and was Afghanistan's star with the bat at the top of the order.
Nicholas Pooran
Runs: 228, Average: 38.0, Strike-rate: 146.15, Fifties: 1
Nicholas Pooran established his status as one of the best batters in the format with 228 runs in the tournament, scoring at a rate of 146.16. The next best West Indies batter made just 140 runs. Pooran finished as the sixth-highest run-getter despite his high-risk batting, and his knock of 98 against Afghanistan guided the team to an excellent win. It was also the highest score recorded by a player in the tournament.
Suryakumar Yadav
Runs: 199, Average: 28.42, Strike-rate: 135.37, Fifties: 2
With two half-centuries and a vital 47 in the semi-final against England, Suryakumar Yadav had a good tournament from the middle-order despite playing on some difficult batting wickets. He made his presence felt in both the knockout games, first with a crucial 47 with the team in trouble in the semi-final against England, and then with one of the best catches the tournament has ever witnessed in a pivotal moment in the final.
Marcus Stoinis
Runs: 169, Strike-rate: 164.07, Wickets: 10, Economy: 8.88
Marcus Stoinis was Australia’s x-factor player in the T20 World Cup, standing out with exceptional knocks against Oman and Scotland. In the game against Oman, he also delivered a crunch performance with the ball, taking 3/19. Despite Australia’s exit before the semi-finals of the tournament, Stoinis stood out with his ability to deliver under pressure.
Hardik Pandya
Runs: 144, Strike-rate: 151.57, Wickets: 11, Economy: 7.64
Hardik Pandya made impactful cameos down the order with the bat and made breakthroughs with the ball when the team needed him to. But his most important contribution came in the final, when he stopped a rampaging Heinrich Klaasen, deceiving him with a slower ball outside off-stump. Hardik went on to deliver an excellent final over to lead India to their title victory. Leading up to the final, he scored more than 20 in four successive matches from down the order, including a half-century against Bangladesh.
Axar Patel
Runs: 92, Strike-rate: 139.39, Wickets: 9, Economy: 7.86
Vital cameos with the bat, one of the best catches in the tournament, and crucial spells with the ball, Axar Patel did it all through the T20 World Cup. His ability to adapt to different roles and make impactful performances proved critical to India's title-winning charge. In the final, promoted up the order, Axar made a brilliant, counter-attacking 47 that helped Virat Kohli settle in and play the anchor role. In the semi-finals, he produced a Player of the Match performance against England, taking 3/23 with the ball.
Axar Patel takes ‘unbelievable’ catch to remove Australia’s captain | AUS v IND | T20WC 2024
Rashid Khan
Wickets: 14, Average: 12.78, Economy: 6.17, Best: 4/17
Rashid Khan led the Afghanistan team brilliantly, producing impressive performances with the ball as the team created history with a semi-final entry. Rashid took 14 wickets in the tournament, bowling at a brilliant economy rate of 6.17. The Afghanistan spinner finished as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with his clutch performance against Bangladesh (4/23 and 19*) helping the team reach the semi-final. He also took 4/17 in their win over New Zealand earlier in the tournament to inspire the team past the Group stage.
Jasprit Bumrah
Wickets: 15, Average: 8.26, Economy: 4.17, Best: 3/7
The Player of the Tournament and India's trump card in their title win, Jasprit Bumrah was unstoppable. More than the 15 wickets he took, his impact in restricting the scoring rate of teams made Bumrah India's most important player right through the tournament. His economy rate of 4.17 is the best ever by any bowler in a single edition of the men's T20 World Cup.
Arshdeep Singh
Wickets: 17, Average: 12.64, Economy: 7.16, Best: 4/9
Arshdeep Singh finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 wickets in eight matches. The left-arm fast bowler was the perfect foil for Jasprit Bumrah with the ball and shone with his early Powerplay spells. In the final, Arshdeep played a vital role in India's win, taking the big wicket of Quinton de Kock at a crucial point in the match and then went on to bowl a brilliant penultimate over, conceding just four runs.
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Wickets: 17, Average: 9.41, Economy: 6.31, Best: 5/9
The joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, Farooqi played a major role in guiding Afghanistan to a historic first semi-final appearance. His 17 wickets came at a brilliant economy rate of 6.31 and the left-arm quick made early inroads into the opposition line-up to put Afghanistan on top in several games. He took 5/9 against Uganda in the best spell of the tournament and also helped Afghanistan beat New Zealand with a four-wicket haul.
12th man: Anrich Nortje
Wickets: 15, Average: 13.4, Economy: 5.74, Best: 4/7
Anrich Nortje had a brilliant tournament with the ball, using his pace and extra bounce to keep batters quiet. Nortje began the tournament with a brilliant 4/7 against Sri Lanka and took at least one wicket in all but one match. In the final, he was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with figures of 2/26 in his four overs.
England have confirmed their squad for the first two Tests of the three-match series against West Indies.
James Anderson will bring the curtain down on his stellar career after the first Test at Lord's, which starts on July 10.
Anderson has taken 700 Test wickets, the most of any fast bowler in the history of the format.
But with the 41-year-old bowing out, England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum also have an eye on the future of their bowling attack.
Fast bowler Dillon Pennington and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith have earned their maiden call-ups, while Gus Atkinson could be in store for his first cap, after he was included in the squad that toured India earlier this year but did not feature.
Chris Woakes, meanwhile, returns to the fold for the first time in a Test squad since last year's Ashes, and Shoaib Bashir has got the nod over Jack Leach.
This squad will cover the second Test, at Trent Bridge, though a new selection is set to be made before the final match, which will start at Edgbaston on July 26.
Ollie Robinson, Ben Foakes, Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have been left out, though the latter three have been involved in England's T20 World Cup campaign.
England squad for first two Tests: Ben Stokes (captain), James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes.
South Africa are hurting after their T20 World Cup final defeat to India, but captain Aidan Markram said his team must be immensely proud of their efforts.
The Proteas needed 30 runs from as many deliveries to clinch the title in Barbados on Saturday.
Instead, the wickets tumbled as India won by seven runs to secure the crown for the first time since 2007.
It was a case of so close, but so far for South Africa, who were playing in their first T20 World Cup semi-final.
While the manner of the defeat stung, Markram refused to be too downbeat.
"I think it'll take some time for us to have a really good reflection on a really good campaign that we've had," Markram said.
"Obviously for the time being, it hurts quite a bit, but having said that, still incredibly proud of this group of players and everyone that's involved in this team.
"A really good game of cricket, so on all fronts, really chuffed with the guys today. Not great to [not] get over the line, but incredibly proud of this group of people that we've got going here in our white-ball squad.
"We got into a great position, which proves that we were worthy finalists and could have won the game today. Unfortunately didn't, but still incredibly proud of the group."
India became only the third team to win the T20 World Cuo more than once, after West Indies (2012 and 2016) and England (2010 and 2022).
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from T20Is on the back of leading India to glory against South Africa.
Kohli, who had endured some indifferent form throughout the T20 World Cup, saved his best for last as he plundered 76 in India's seven-run win over the Proteas on Saturday.
Kohli has played 125 T20Is and is India's second-highest run-scorer in the format, with 4,188 to his name. Only Rohit (4,231 runs in 159 matches) can boast a higher total.
And the duo both confirmed after the match that they would be bowing out of the format.
"This was my last T20 World Cup and this is exactly what we wanted to achieve," Kohli said.
"This is an amazing game, I was telling Rohit today when we went out to bat that one day you feel like you can't get a run, and then you come out and things happen. God is great. I bow my head in gratitude.
"I'm really grateful I was able to get the job done for the team when it mattered the most.
"This is my last T20 game playing for India, my last World Cup I was going to play. I wanted to make the most of it. And this was our aim. We wanted to win an ICC tournament, we wanted to lift the cup.
"This was an open secret, it was not something that I was not going to announce if we'd lost. This was going to be my last T20 World Cup playing for India, it's time for the next generation to take over.
"Two-year cycle, there are some amazing players playing in India, they're going to take the team forward in the T20 format, and do wonders as we've seen them do in the IPL. I've no doubts they'll keep the flag waving high, and really take this team further from here now."
Rohit, who was part of the India squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2007, followed up Kohli's announcement with his own retirement confirmation.
"This was my last [T20I] game as well," Rohit said.
"No better time to say goodbye to this format. I've loved every moment of this. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted, I wanted to win the cup.
"I wanted this badly. Very hard to put in words. It was a very emotional moment for me. I was very desperate for this title in my life. Happy that we eventually crossed the line."
India ended their 17-year wait to win the T20 World Cup as they edged out South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final in Barbados.
Saturday's match went right to the wire with South Africa requiring 16 runs from the final over, but Hardik Pandya clinched a hat-trick with the late dismissals of David Miller and Kagiso Rabada as the Proteas lost their nerve.
Virat Kohli had earlier smashed 76 runs off 59 balls, comfortably his best score of the tournament, to help India set a daunting target of 177 – the highest ever in a men's T20 World Cup final.
Kohli's innings came to an end in the penultimate over as he swung Rabada's delivery straight to Marco Jansen at long-on, after partner Axar Patel (47) was run out by Quinton de Kock.
That knock proved to be the title clincher, though, as the India bowlers provided able support to their batsmen.
South Africa were reduced to 12-2 within the first three overs as Jasprit Bumrah sent wickets flying with a brilliant outswinger to beat Reeza Hendricks (4) and Arsheep Singh had Aiden Markram (4) caught behind by Rishabh Pant.
If India thought they would be able to defend their total in comfort, however, they were mistaken.
Heinrich Klaasen slammed 52 off 27 balls with support from De Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs (31), to take them close.
Thirty runs from as many deliveries was the target at one point, but Klaasen nicked Pandya's ball through to Pant in the 17th over and Bumrah followed up by dismissing Jansen for two.
The tail was unable to provide the heroics for South Africa, desperate final-over swings from Miller (21) and Rabada (4) going unrewarded as Pandya finished with an efficient 3-20.
Kohli picks his moment
Kohli has not been on top form throughout this tournament, 37 versus Bangladesh his best score until this point with five of his innings bringing single-digit tallies.
He stepped up when it mattered most, though, becoming just the third player to make a half-century in multiple T20 World Cup finals, having made 77 in India's 2014 loss to Sri Lanka (also Marlon Samuels and Kumar Sangakkara).
After being presented with the Man-of-the-Match award, Kohli suggested he will not play at the next edition of the tournament in 2026. If his T20I career is over, he certainly went out on a high.
Klaasen's historic knock in vain
South Africa ran India close despite being tasked with chasing the best total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final, and that was mostly due to Klaasen's efforts.
He made his half-century in 23 balls, the fastest 50 in a T20 World Cup final. He obliterated the previous record, Mitchell Marsh's 31-ball half-century for Australia in 2021.
Long wait over for India
Most observers would agree India are fitting champions, having marked themselves out as the best team at the tournament during the last few weeks.
It is their first T20 World Cup crown since they won the inaugural edition in 2007, and they have joined England and West Indies as the only teams to triumph more than once (two titles each).
Emerging Ireland completed a 2-0 sweep of their four-day games against the West Indies Academy with a 10-wicket win at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday.
The Academy entered day four 148-3 off 28 overs, needing a further 93 runs to make their Irish counterparts have to chase a target.
The tourists were eventually bowled out for 268 in 73.3 overs, leaving Emerging Ireland needing just 28 to win.
Ackeem Auguste, who started the day 70*, was eventually dismissed for a 154-ball 93 including 14 fours while Carlon Bowen-Tuckett made 41 against 5-44 off 17 overs from Matthew Humphreys.
The hosts then needed only 3.5 overs to reach 30-0 with James McCollum and Andrew Balbirnie finishing 14* and 13*, respectively.
Full Scores:
West Indies Academy 200 off 56 overs (Teddy Bishop 69, Nyeem Young 29, Jewel Andrew 27, Ackeem Auguste 26, Matthew Humphreys 5-57, Curtis Campher 3-12) & 268 all out off 73.3 overs (Ackeem Auguste 93, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 41, Kadeem Alleyne 38, Matthew Humphreys 5-44)
Emerging Ireland 441 all out off 112.5 overs (Andrew Balbirnie 88, Fionn Hand 79, Andy McBrine 64, Paul Stirling 32, Teddy Bishop 2-35, Nyeem Young 2-55, Kelvin Pittman 2-65, Joshua Bishop 2-72) & 30-0 off 3.5 overs
We are at the end of what has been a brilliant ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 – and we have a final fit for the occasion.
India and South Africa have both played excellent cricket and really deserve their place in Barbados this weekend. It is going to be so hard to call – with two teams who have played clean and aggressive cricket throughout the tournament.
India are going to be so hard to beat. They bat so deep and in Jasprit Bumrah, have a world-class death bowler who can break the hearts of the opponents. In contrast, I picked South Africa as a dark horse before the tournament began, and it is very special to see them finally reach their first final after so many semi-final upsets.
Getting over the hump and winning a World Cup is so special and if they can do it, it will create memories that will last a lifetime for the players and the nation.
I have won the T20 World Cup on two occasions, and they are among the most special experiences I have in life – let alone cricket.
I have so many treasured items from my career but my two rings for winning World Cups are the standouts. They are like Super Bowl rings, almost physical proof that you have climbed to the top of the mountain and become champions of the world.
When she’s older, I will give both of my rings – for being part of the West Indies sides that won the T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2016 – to my daughter and I can’t wait for that moment.
I will tell her to keep one, and then pass the other one down to my future grandchildren, and I’m so proud to keep them in our family for generations.
Barbados is going to be at its regal best for the final and the build-up to the match has brought back so many memories of our special day in 2012. But before I get to that, it’s worth pointing out that it’s the journey to get to a final that truly forms a team and their identity.
We played New Zealand in the final match of the Super 8s, and it went down to a Super Over – with the winner going through to the semi-final. I knew I had to be brave when I went out to bat, and I was lucky enough to thrive in situations where the pressure was most intense.
I smacked the first ball for six, and in that moment I knew we’d go on, win the match and the tournament.
We played against Sri Lanka, the host nation, in the final and we really struggled. But Marlon Samuels played one of the innings of his life and we posted an okay total on a low-scoring pitch. Our bowlers then did the rest.
When that final Sri Lankan wicket fell, and it was an indescribable moment. At first, I think I felt relief more than anything and then just pure joy. I didn’t actually sleep that night, I think I was up for 24 hours after winning it. We went for a photoshoot the next morning and I don’t think I want to see the pictures! We were so tired but so content with life at the same time.
I had a good tournament in 2012 and finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer in six innings.
Four years on, we were lucky enough to do it again and Carlos Brathwaite played that remarkable innings against England. Remember the name? In so many ways, it was more phenomenal to win it again – but I think experience counts for so much in finals. It’s why India will be so confident on Sunday.
Whoever comes out on top, they will join a select group of people who can call themselves a Men’s T20 World Cup champion. I promise the winners, it’s the most amazing feeling in the world.
Rahul Dravid has no interest in making the T20 World Cup final about his farewell, instead urging his side to overcome South Africa for their own reasons.
India coach Dravid stated before the limited-overs tournament that this competition would be his last in charge of the national team.
Rohit Sharma's men have responded by going unbeaten throughout the entire 20-over tournament, dispatching England in the semi-finals to reach Saturday's showpiece.
Much has been made of Dravid's exit, with many India supporters desperate for their veteran coach to leave with silverware, though he just wants his side to grab this opportunity.
"You know, I don't really believe in this 'Do it for somebody'," Dravid said.
"I love that quote about somebody asking somebody else, 'Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?' and he says 'I want to climb Mount Everest because it's there'.
"I want to win this World Cup because it's there. It's not for anyone, it's not for anybody, it's just there to win."
Opponents South Africa are unbeaten also throughout the 2024 edition of this global white-ball tournament.
They obliterated Afghanistan in the last four to breeze into the final at ease, too, with the best two teams deservedly making the showpiece.
Never has this tournament yielded an unbeaten champion, but of course, that will change come close of play in Bridgetown.
South Africa have history to deal with, too, after becoming somewhat perennial underachievers in the final of global competitions.
Captain Aiden Markram believes his team can put the past behind them, however.
Markram said: "It's a game of cricket. Someone has to win, and someone has to lose ultimately. That's the name of the game. You take it in your stride.
"You do get belief, though, from winning close games and potentially winning games that you thought you weren't going to win.
"It does a lot for your changing room and the vibe in the changing room."
Dwayne Bravo’s stock as a coach remains on the up, as Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott once again heaped commendation on the former West Indies all-rounder for his role in the team’s dream run to the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Though Afghanistan crashed out of the competition following a nine-wicket loss against South Africa at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Wednesday night, Trott pointed out that the experience and lessons learnt in this edition of the global showpiece, will go a far way in assisting Afghanistan to compete consistently with the top teams in world cricket.
“We’ve got to find batters who can bat in the middle order in T20 cricket. I have an idea of who they are and the players that are going to be doing that. So, we’ll be working really hard in the next short term to get those players in playing T20 cricket and ODI cricket,” Trott shared.
Beyond that, the former England batsman spoke to the significance of Bravo’s appointment as bowling consultant, the impact he had on the team throughout the tournament.
“I think he’s a cracking coach,” Trott declared of Bravo.
“Dwayne’s been immense and a great guy to have around the dressing room. Always calm, rubs off on the bowlers and always willing to chat to the bowlers and batters as well.
“Very generous with his time and his passion for the side. I love working with him and cricket is in good hands if there are people like Dwayne coaching the game and coaching the skills and sharing their experience,” he added.
In fact, Trott even expressed a desire to possibly work with Bravo on future assignments. Whether it will be with Afghanistan or not, is left to be seen.
“I wish him well wherever he goes and coaches next and I certainly hope our paths cross as soon as possible. He’s been brilliant and it’s been great to have him with his professional attitude, and I think that’s certainly rubbed off on the players and they’ve seen what it takes to be at their best and play the amount of cricket that he has,” Trott ended.
Former Jamaica and West Indies cricketer Mark Neita was returned unopposed as President of the Melbourne Cricket Club for an eleventh consecutive term at the club’s 127th annual general meeting held on Thursday at the club's grounds in Kingston.
Robert Wright was elevated to the role of first vice-president while Carlton Facey was voted in as second vice-president.
Diann Campbell, who was appointed to the CWI Board of Directors in April, will serve as secretary while Richard Gayle was returned unopposed as treasurer.
Former Jamaica and West Indies batsman Robert Samuels was also returned unopposed as club captain.
Special thanks to our outgoing 1st Vice President - Mr. Zachary Harding, 2nd Vice President - Mr. James Stewart, Honorary Secretary - Mr. Neil Reese for their invaluable contribution, Also Mr. Dimario McDowell.
Evon Reid, Christopher Spencer and Paul Stewart will all return as members of the club’s committee alongside new members Tareque White and former Jamaica batsman Jon-Ross Campbell.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank those who served with me in the past,” Neita said on Thursday.
“To my new team, I want to say how proud I am of this group of individuals. I feel really encouraged that we have people who will go forward and do well for us,” he added.
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